AO1

• What symptoms do typical antipsychotics combat?

  -positive symptoms of SZ such as hallucinations and delusions
• Give one example of a TA

  -Chlorpromazine
• How do TA's work

  -bind to the dopamine receptors but do not stimulate it, particularly the D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway of the brain. 
• By reducing stimulation of the dopamine system...

  -they eliminate hallucinations and delusions within a few days of starting the medication although it may take several weeks to see any significant improvements
• Kapur estimates that...

  -60-70%of D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway must be blocked for the drugs to be effective
• Atypical antipsychotics temporarily block...

  -dopamine transmission of D2 receptors and then rapidly disassociate to allow normal transmission.
• It is thought that this disassociation may be responsible for...

  -lower levels of extrapyramidal side effects.
• Low levels of dopamine are associated with

  -Parkinson disease
• if we lower dopamine levels too much in schizophrenics...

  they can develop Parkinson like symptoms known as tardive dyskinesia
• Atypical antipsychotics also have a stronger affinity

  -to serotonin (particularly 5HTP)
• this had led to the belief that they can also

  have benefits on the negative symptoms of SZ.